Taiwan has become one of the quiet favourites for Australian travellers: Taipei's night markets, Taroko Gorge, cycling the east coast, hot springs, and some of the best food in Asia at very fair prices. It is modern, safe and has excellent hospitals, so the vaccination list is shorter than for most of Asia. Shorter is not the same as empty, though, and a couple of things catch people out.
This guide covers the vaccinations and precautions Australians should consider for Taiwan. It is general information only. Your personal plan depends on where you are going, how long for, and your health history.
Do you need vaccinations to travel to Taiwan?
No vaccinations are required to enter Taiwan for Australians arriving from Australia. Yellow fever is not present in Taiwan and the vaccine is not recommended. The vaccines below are about protecting your health.
Recommended vaccinations for Taiwan
For almost every traveller
- Hepatitis A. Spread through contaminated food and water. Recommended for most travellers, and the night markets are the reason. It is a long-lasting vaccine that covers every future trip to Asia too.
- Routine vaccines. Tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, MMR (measles) and seasonal influenza should all be up to date.
Depending on your trip
- Japanese encephalitis. Present in rural Taiwan, with cases every year in the warmer months, mostly in farming areas in the south and centre. Considered for longer stays, repeated trips, or time in rural areas between roughly May and October.
- Rabies. Taiwan was rabies-free for decades, but since 2013 the virus has been found in wild ferret-badgers and occasionally other animals in rural and mountain areas. Dog rabies remains absent. The vaccine is considered for longer stays, hikers and cyclists spending a lot of time in the countryside, and anyone who might handle animals.
- Hepatitis B. For longer stays, or if tattoos, piercings, medical or dental treatment, or new sexual partners are possible.
- Dengue. Taiwan has seasonal dengue, mostly in the south around Tainan and Kaohsiung in the warmer months, with some large outbreaks in recent years. A dengue vaccine (Qdenga) is now available at our Bulimba clinic (see our guide to the dengue vaccine). Whether it suits you depends on your age, your trip and whether you have had dengue before.
Usually not needed
Typhoid is not routinely recommended for Taiwan. Malaria tablets are not needed. Taiwan has had no local malaria transmission for many years.
Hiking, cycling and typhoons
Taiwan's mountains are serious: Yushan and the high-altitude routes go above 3,000 metres, high enough for altitude sickness, and the weather changes fast. Taroko and the east coast are prone to landslides and earthquakes, and the gorge has been closed for long periods after the 2024 earthquake, so check current access before you plan around it. Typhoon season runs roughly July to October and can shut down transport for days. Travel insurance that covers hiking, cycling and trip disruption is worth having.
Food, water and mosquitoes
Travellers' diarrhoea is a moderate risk in Taiwan, lower in good hotels and Taipei, higher once you are eating widely at street stalls, which you will. Tap water is generally treated but most locals drink it boiled or filtered, and that is a sensible rule for visitors too. Carry a treatment kit your travel doctor can prescribe. Mosquito bite prevention matters in the south and in summer because dengue is spread by day-biting mosquitoes: repellent with DEET or picaridin, long sleeves in the evening, and screened or air-conditioned rooms.
When to see a travel doctor
Book your pre-travel consultation 4 to 6 weeks before you fly, or 6 to 8 weeks if Japanese encephalitis or rabies are likely to be on your list, so the course has time to work. Even last-minute travellers benefit.
At Travel Doctors Brisbane in Bulimba, we tailor recommendations to your exact Taiwan itinerary. See our Taiwan destination health advice, browse our travel health services, and book your consultation.
This article is general information only and was reviewed against our subscription travel health database in October 2026. It does not replace personalised medical advice. Vaccination needs and disease risks change and depend on your itinerary, season, length of stay and health history. Always confirm with a travel health professional and Smartraveller before you travel.